Tongs



Jan, 1, 1924 C. T. DAVIS TONGS Filed Aug. 29 1921 BY a 2 at! ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

UNITED stares CHARLES T. DAVIS, OF PARK PLACE, TEXAS.

TON GS Application filed August 29, 1921. Serial No. 496,457.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Park Place, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful im rovements in tongs.

1 Sne object of the invention is to provide a tong which operates with a jaw action and may be adapted for use as a tie tong, or an ice tong, and the principle embodied may be used in grappling hooks, clam shell buckets, cant hooks and the like.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described embodying a construction whereby force may be applied to the gripping members in a direction such that they will be opened and closed synchronously and with equal force, and symmetrically with respect to the handle or shank to which the gripping members are indirectly attached.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front view of the tong, partly opened.

Figure 2 is a front view of the tong in closed position, and

Figure 3 is a side view with the jaws artly open.

Referring to the drawings, more specifically, the numeral 1 designates the handle or shank, one end of which is formed into a grip 2 and to the other end of which the corresponding ends of the symmetrical links 3, 3 are pivoted, at a common point. The numerals 1, 4 designate the jaws which are pivoted together. These jaws are formed at one end, into hooks, or claws, 5, 5 and their other ends are pivoted to the corresponding ends of the links 6, 6. The other ends of the links 6 are pivoted to a common bearing pin 7, movable in lengthwise bearing 8 in the shank 1. e

The other end of the links 3 are pivoted at homologous points, to the jaws 4, between their common pivoted point and their points of connection to the respective links, 6.

If the tool be suspended by the handle 1 the jaws close of their own weight to the position shown in Figure 2.

When in this closed position, if the jaws come in contact with a resisting surface so that the weight of the tool will be sustained by the jaws, or if pressure be applied against the jaws, through the handle, said jaws will open the limit of'their reach, as partly shown in Figure 1, an upward or pulling force, then applied, by means of the handle will cause the jaws to close and engage, and grip any object within their sweep. V

In this action of opening and closing the jaws operate synchronously, and with equal power, as the same force is simultaneously applied through the handle to each jaw by means of the links 3, 3 which are attached to said jaws at homologous points, and to the handle at a common point.

The handle is held in a position always perpendicular to a line passing through any two homologous points of the jaws in any position they may be, by means of the symmetrical links 6, 6 which connect homologous points of the jaws with the common bearing pin 7, movable in the slot 8, as above described.

The form of tool shown and described obviously depends somewhat on the force of gravity and the weight of the tool itself, to

efi'ect the opening, and closing, of the jaws and if used in a osition where the handle be in a horizonta l position or the jaws be above the handle it would not function, as described. In such case the function of the handle 1 would be to support the jaws 4i and hold them in the position desired, and the force to open or close the jaws would have to be applied by any convenient means to the bearing pin 7 which in its movement in the bearing 8 would simultaneously apply equal power to the jaws.

By making the bearing pin 7 a fixed pivoted point in the handle 1, for the links 6 to work on and locating the bearing 8 for the common pivoted pointof the links 3 to work in, a difierent opening or closing force of the jaws would be obtained, due to change in the length of the actuating links of the jaws, although in other respects the principle of operation. would be the same.

By altering the shape of the jaws a wide range of opening and closing action can easily be secured.

What I claim is 1. A device of the character described including a handle, a pair of jaws pivoted together, two pair of links, the links of each pair being pivoted at one end to the respective jaws at homologous points, respectively, and at their other ends being pivoted to the handle at common points, one of said last mentioned connections being also slidable on said handle. a

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of hooked jaws pivoted together intermediate their ends, a handle having a longitudinal slot therein, a pair of links pivotally connected to the lower end of said handle at a common point and also connected to said jaws, a second pair of links connected at their outer ends to the. upper ends of said jaws and secured to a bearing pin at their other ends, said bearing pin being slidable in said slot.

Ihi testimony whereof I have signed-my name to this specification in the presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES T; DAV is.

Witnesses:

E. A. CRAFT, WM. A. OATI-IZEY. 

